Hi guys, Because of my chronic health condition , I've had to change how I dress, I love clothes - its frustrating! and also a puzzle..
If I wear compression leggings or tights and a lumbar brace, I have less pain, more energy, less brain fog, and no dizziness, these things really really help so its a no brainer to continue. On the rare days I wear jeans now I end up being a useless mess, so I tend not to. I used to be a jeans and a pretty top person, but I have settled on a new uniform. Due to the reduced mobility, I've gained quite a lot of weight, size 18, I anticipate the rehab being a long road, so am at ease with this for the time being. Tall, 5'8 and fair - I don't suit black. I'm hunting for something specific to buy several of, I'm hopeful you all can help me ?!? 😘🙏
What I have been finding works is usually the thick leggings with a short tshirt type of dress (i cant do leggings without something covering my bum), the brace on top of this (its ugly, and scratchy on bare skin) and then a shirt/ sweater/ both - the top layer has to be fairly loose so you cant see the brace. Or a less favourite combo as I feel a bit too tent like/ bulky at this size is the tights/ leggings plus a vest under the brace, and a long dress or skirt (swishy viscose, not stretchy) and a cardi/ jumper, or the same plus a shorter skirt. With separates it all feels a bit more faffy , so many different things around waist area. I have a couple of loose tunic stretchy sort of dresses and ill put the brace under these and this works well too, esp for warmer weather - I just don't love their naff spriggy patterns (a bit country casuals..). Tbh im not completely sure what I'll do come the summer as its all got much worse since last year..
Sorry I'm going into way too much detail
I have several of the tshirty dresses but the ones i wear the most are these from Next https://www.next.co.uk/style/st703707/198421#198421 and for bumming around at home etc they are completely fine, and easy to match in with other things as the ones I have are are plain colours. But they feel very like just a long tshirt (nightie) and not so much 'proper'. Id love to find some dresses, probably short , that are a bit smarter , a little more structured material, maybe ponte or similar - but not officey. Ideally straight to skim curves and hide brace - and could either be worn as is with the brace under, or layered so they look like a skirt with sweater etc on top. Could be short sleeved or sleeveless, maybe even long sleeved. plain colours. I'm a navy rather than black person .
complicated and awkward, can you help??